Aerosol gun

ABSTRACT

An aerosol gun which utilizes a replaceable cartridge or canister. The gun is constructed of two half sections and a reciprocably mounted trigger means. Aerosol gun may be advantageously used as a defensive weapon by using an aerosol cartridge containing tear gas.

States ateni [19] Adrian et a1.

[ AEROSOL GUN [75] Inventors: Robert G. Adrian; Claire M. Adrian, both of Camden, NJ.

[73] Assignee: Tear Gas Products Corp., Pennsauken, N .J

[22] Filed: June 23, 1971 [21] App1.No.: 155,989

52 us. Cl ..222/79,222/4o2.13 s1 lnt.Cl. ..B67d 5/54 58 FieldofSearch ..222/79,1s2,325,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,459,342 8/1969 Manning ..222/402.13

[451 Mayl,1973

6/1965 Joffe ..222/79 X 1/1935 Tinkham ..239/375 X Primary Examiner-Stanley H. Tollberg AtzorneyArthur H. Seidel et a1.

[5 7 ABSTRACT An aerosol gun which utilizes a replaceable cartridge or canister. The gun is constructed of two half sections and a reciprocably mounted trigger means. Aerosol gun may be advantageously used as a defensive weapon by using an aerosol cartridge containing tear gas.

2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTED 11975 3 730 390 INVENTOR 48 T 30 ROBERT a. ADRIAN 56 By CLA/RE M. ADE/AN /4 E 54 FIG. 3 WM;

ATTORNEYS.

AEROSOL GUN This invention relates to an aerosol gun. More particularly, this invention relates to an aerosol gun which uses a replaceable aerosol cartridge and which may be used at a number of different times on a single aerosol cartridge.

This invention may be used to dispense an aerosol, gas or other fluid. However, this invention may be most advantageously used as a defensive weapon by dispensing a tear gas or other irritant quickly and conveniently by the user. This invention has the further advantage thatit may be used repeatedly at a number of different times.

Heretofore, pocket type tear gas guns have included a firing pin that is released by a finger engaging a handle mounted thereon and moving it out of its cocked or safety position into a position where it can be released to fire an explosive cartridge of tear gas. Such tear gas guns suffer from the defect that they are difficult and slow to operate. They also suffer from the further disadvantage that the firing pin may strike the cartridge with insufficient force to cause ignition of the primer. This is a substantial disadvantage because the user often has only one chance to fire the tear gas gun. Another type of prior art device uses a pin or other means to penetrate a cartridge containing a tear gas. Both of these types of prior art devices suffer the disadvantage that once they are triggered, they cannot be controlled. A further important disadvantage of these prior art devices is that they cannot be reused until they are reloaded.

The present invention may be used 'a number of times in rapid sequence if necessary. The amount of tear gas emitted during each use may be easily and accurately controlled by pressing on a trigger.

Briefly, the present invention comprises an aerosol gun into which an aerosol cartridge may be inserted.

-The aerosol cartridge holding means or guncase may preferably be made of two members. A triggering means having a nozzle is reciprocably mounted in the holding means or gun case. The nozzle of the trigger means engages a valve of the aerosol cartridge when the trigger is depressed thereby releasing the aerosol through the valve and nozzle.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings forms which are presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view in perspective of the embodimentofFlG.1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the invention taken along the lines 3-3 of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals indicate like elements, there is shown in FIG. 1 an aerosol gun having a nozzle 12 and a trigger 14. Members 16 and 18 may be formed of any suitable fairly rigid material. Members 16 and 18 are fastened together by means of screws 20, 22 and 24. However, any other suitable fastening means such as rivets may be used for screws 20, 22 and 24.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 2, there is shown an exploded view in perspective of the aerosol gun 10 of FIG. 1 which more particularly shows triggering means 26 and aerosol cartridge 28. Trigger means 26 is comprised of trigger 14, a discharge means which may take the form of U-shaped member 30 and a nozzle l2. Triggering means 26 may preferably be unitarily formed in any suitable fairly rigid material such as a fairly rigid plastic. However, the nozzle 12 may be separately formed and mounted through the leg portion 32 of U-shaped member 30 and securely fastened therein by any suitable cement. The leg portion 32 is disposed transversely of the recess which receives the aerosol container. Similarly, U-shaped member 30 and trigger 14 could be separately formed and then united by cementing. The legs 34 and 36 of U-shaped member 30 ride in tracks 38 and 40, respectively, of member 16. Similar tracks, not shown, are provided in member 18.

Aerosol cartridge 28 has an emitting valve 42. Aerosol cartridge 28 is mounted in the elongated recess 44 provided by the shaped contours of members 16 and 18. A semi-annular stop element 46 is formed in member 16 and a similar stop element, not shown, may be formed on member 18. Stop element 46 prevents cartridge 28 from moving forward and thereby prevents end 48 of nozzle 12 from opening valve 42 when trigger 14 is not depressed. A retainer means or threaded plug 50 may be screwed into treads 52 to retain cartridge 28 in aerosol gun 10.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 3, the movement of trigger 14 in handle 54 is shown by double arrow 56. As may be seen in FIG. 3, trigger means 26 is free to reciprocate in aerosol gun 10 along the axis of double arrow 56 which is parallel to the axis of the cylindrical recess 44. In operation, when trigger 14 is depressed, end 48 of nozzle 12 which is aligned with valve 42 of aerosol cartridge 28 engages that valve thereby causing emission of tear gas or other fluid through valve 42 and nozzle 12. Upon release of trigger 14, the emission of tear gas, aerosol or other fluid ceases. When, after a number of uses, all of the tear gas or other fluid in aerosol cartridge 28 becomes dissipated, aerosol cartridge 28 may be removed and a new one installed by simply unscrewing retainer means or plug 50.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the aerosol gun may be used for a number of different purposes. It is also apparent that various changes and modifications may be made in the structure. For example, a square, oval or other shaped cross-sectional aerosol cartridge may be used. The retaining means 50 and stop element 46 may be eliminated by making a tight fit between members 16 and 18. However, this would require the loosening of screws 20, 22 and 24 in order to replace the aerosol cartridge 28. Further, a discharge means in the form of an L-shaped member or other suitably shaped member of rigid material may be substituted for the U-shaped member 30 of trigger means 26. In the case of an L-shaped member, the nozzle 12 would be mounted through the base leg of the L- shaped member.

In view of the above, the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating thescope of the invention.

It is claimed:

1. An aerosol gun comprising means for holding an aerosol cartridge of the type having an emitting valve at one end, said holding means being provided with a recess for supporting an aerosol cartridge and a handle, trigger means mounted for movement in said holding means, said trigger means including a trigger, means for discharging said aerosol cartridge, said discharging means comprising an elongated member having at least first and second legs, said first leg being coupled to said trigger for movement therewith, said second leg being coupled to said first leg for movement therewith and extending transversely of said recess, nozzle means supported by said second leg and extending therethrough, one end of said nozzle being alignable with and engageable with the emitting valve of an aerosol container so that movement of said trigger is operative to displace said valve and dispense aerosol from said container, said holding means comprising track means, and said trigger means being engageable with and guided by said track means during its movement.

2. An aerosol gun as recited in claim 1, wherein said holding means comprise track means, said trigger means including a third leg, said third leg being coupled to said second leg, said first, second and third legs defining a U-shaped member having its legs engageable with and guided by said track means during movement of said trigger. 

1. An aerosol gun comprising means for holding an aerosol cartridge of the type having an emitting valve at one end, said holding means being provided with a recess for supporting an aerosol cartridge and a handle, trigger means mounted for movement in said holding means, said trigger means including a trigger, means for discharging said aerosol cartridge, said discharging means comprising an elongated member having at least first and second legs, said first leg being coupled to said trigger for movement therewith, said second leg being coupled to said first leg for movement therewith and extending transverselY of said recess, nozzle means supported by said second leg and extending therethrough, one end of said nozzle being alignable with and engageable with the emitting valve of an aerosol container so that movement of said trigger is operative to displace said valve and dispense aerosol from said container, said holding means comprising track means, and said trigger means being engageable with and guided by said track means during its movement.
 2. An aerosol gun as recited in claim 1, wherein said holding means comprise track means, said trigger means including a third leg, said third leg being coupled to said second leg, said first, second and third legs defining a U-shaped member having its legs engageable with and guided by said track means during movement of said trigger. 